Coil fastener slider having locking ridge

ABSTRACT

A slider for a coil fastener formed by helically wound plastic strips having control walls formed partway along the sides of the slider to guide the strips. At a termination area of the end of each control wall a locking ridge is formed as an integral part of the slider. Each locking ridge has an inclined surface corresponding to the helical pitch of the strips and a thickness such that when the strips are pulled apart in an extreme disengaging position, the locking ridge will engage between adjacent coils and prevent further movement of the slider.

United States Patent 1191 Labecki I 1 COIL FASTENER SLIDER HAVING LOCKING RIDGE [75] Inventor: Karl W. Labecki, Bayside, NY.

[73] Assignee: Coats & Clark, Inc., New York,

[22] Filed: Oct. 10, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 296,306

52 us. 01. 24005.14 R. [51] Int. Cl A44b 19/30 [58] Field of Search ..24/20514 R [561 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,312,284 2/1943 .Schaaff 24/205.l4 R 2,328,882 9/1943 Schaaff 24/205.l4 R 1 2,501,399 3/1950 Marinsky 24/205.l4 R 3,054,158 9/1962 Yoshida 24/205.l5 R 3,170,208 2/1965 Morin 24/205.l5 R 3,226,788 1/1966 Samberg 24/205.14 R

1451 July 16, 1974 6/1969 Manning ..24/205.14R

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,094,683 12/1960 Germany 24/205.14

Primary Examiner-Hemard A. Gelak Attorney, Agent, or FirmErwin Koppel 571 ABSTRACT A slider for a coil fastener formed by helically wound plastic strips having control walls formed partway along the sides of the slider to guide the strips. At a termination area of the end of each control wall a locking ridge is. formed as an integral part of the slider. Each locking ridge has an inclined surface corresponding to the helical pitch of the strips and a thickness such that when the strips are pulled apart in an extreme disengaging position, the locking ridge will engage between adjacent coils and prevent further movement of the slider.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 1 COIL FASTENER SLIDER HAVING LOCKING RIDGE BROAD STATEMENT OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a slider for a plastic coil fastener and is particularly concerned with the formation of locking ridges on the slider to prevent slider movement during coil disengagement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART to disengage the tooth to move the slider, but upon pressing the tab against'the slider, this metal tooth will engage and lock between the metal parts of the slide fastener.

The above described locking means utilizing a crimped edge or metal tooth is not practical for use in a coil fastener formed from thermoplastic material since such metal locking means would cut or break the coil segments in use. Accordingly, in order to provide a locking means fora plastic coil fastener, moving parts which include a complex spring and link arrangement have been utilized to press a locking element into the coil strips. When it is desired to move the slider, pressure on the finger operated tab releases the locking means for the longitudinal movement of the slider. However, this locking means for a coil fastener necessitates a complex and special assembly machine and is subject to malfunction because of its complex arrangement. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a simple locking means for a plastic coil fastener which would not require separate movable parts and a separate complex assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a slider for a coil fastener having integrally formed locking means to prevent slider movement.

In the present invention a slider for a thermoplastic coil fastener is provided which includes guiding control walls for the coil strips and locking ridges formed integrally at the termination of the control walls to engage the coil strips to prevent'slider movement.

A further provision of the present invention is a slider on a thermoplastic helical coil fastener having integrally formed locking ridges provided with inclined surfaces corresponding to the helical angle and engagable therewith for locking the slider.

There is further provided by the present invention a slider for a coil fastener having peripheral control walls for guiding coil strips and locking ridges integrally formed at the termination of the control walls having a thickness such that they can be received in locking arrangement between adjacent coil segments.

There is also provided in the present invention a slider for a coil fastener having integrally formed locking ridges provided with one side edge integral with the flat portion of the slider, another side edge perpendicular to the flat portion and an inclined surface connecting these side edges and engagable with the coils for locking movement.

It is understood that the slide fastener of the present invention is operable on a coil fastener comprising a pair of matching coil strips each formed from a thermoplastic monofilamentwith one strip having a left-hand twist and the other strip having a right-hand twist. The thermoplastic material involved may be nylon or a polyurethane, and the helix in cross-section may either I al., where the coils are mounted equally on both sides of the attaching tapes, and the invention can be applied to this form of slide fastener also.

In the present illustrated embodiment the slide comprises a front portion having a transverse flat surface with peripheral control walls to guide and accommodate the coils, and this front portion of the slider also includes a grasping tab. The back portion of the slider is also generally of a flat shape, and an upper bridge portion connects the back and front portions. The controlwalls extend from a bottom edge along the periphery of the front portion to terminate at the throat section of the slider where the coils diverge. At the upper termination area of the control walls locking ridges are formed integrally with the slider to prevent undesired separating movement after the coil strips have been fastened together. Each locking ridge has a generally triangular shape in a plate-like form. The thickness of the plate is determined so that the locking ridge will fit between adjacent coil segments, and each ridge is formed n so that one sideedge is inclined with respect tothe transverse flat surface of the slider, the angle of inclination corresponding to the helix angle of an individual coil strip. In normal operation of the slider, it will be able to move up and down with the coil strips passing through the throat adjacent to the locking ridges. However, if the coil strips are moved into an extreme diverging position, adjacent coil segments will be engaged by the locking ridges so that movement of the slider is prevented.

In considering the positioning and the relative location of the elements described in the invention, it is to be appreciated that normally a slide fastener is used on clothing or the likein a vertical position, and the terms upper and lower will be used to designate those parts of the slider and coil fastener in the position as shown in the accompanying drawings. Similarly, that part of the slider on which the locking ridges and the gripping tab are mounted will be designated the front portion. The terms upper, lower, front and back" are merely used to facilitate the designation of relative elements and their location in describing the present invention. However, it is to be understood that the slide fastener may be positioned in a horizontal location or it may be mounted on a carrying case orjother article where its position is constantly changing with respect to vertical and horizontal designations. Accord- 3 ingly, the designations used are intended to be only for clarification purposes and not to limit the invention or the use and location of the slider and slide fastener illustrated.

The nature of the present invention will become more clearly apparent and better understood from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of coil slide fastener in a vertical location with the slider of the present invention partly in cross-section with the front portion removed;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. I showing the strips of the coil fastener in an extreme diverging position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the slider;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view takenalong line [VIV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view partly in section and similar to FIG. 5 in showing the inside of the front portion of the slider; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 3 of part of the slider showing the engagement of a locking ridge on anindividual coil segment.

In FIG. I a section ofa coil fastener 10 is shown having mating coil strips 12 and I4. Coil strip 12 is formed from a thermoplastic monofilament provided with-a predetermined helix angle and encircling a stuffer cord 16 that is sewed upon a tape 18 in a conventional manner.- Strip I4 is similarly formed upon a stuffer cord 20 and sewed upon a tape 22 in the same manner. It is to be understood that strips 12 and 14 are conventional and provided with opposing left-hand and right-hand helical twists, respectively. for conventional engagement due to slider movement.

As seen in FIGS. I and 2, strips 12 and 14 are respectively fastened on the front of attachment tapes l8 and 22 which are then sewed or otherwise fastened onto a garment or the like (not shown). A slider 24 is mounted so that coil strips 12 and 14 pass therethrough due to slider movement so as to be engaging position below slider 24 and diverge from each other at a widening throat portion 26 of slider 24. As seen in FIG. 3, slider 24 comprises a front'portion 34 and a back portion 32 connected by a bridge portion 28.

As shown in FIG. I. coil strips 12 and 14 are in the normal position so that vertical movement of the slider 24 will engage or disengage individual coil segments 30 in a conventional manner. It is to be appreciated that the diverging portions of coil strips 12 and 14 in the normal position as shown in FIG. 1 are more closely adjacent to bridge portion 28 than in the position shown in FIG. 2 where the coil strips are in an extreme diverging position with respect to throat 26 This extreme divergence is the position that the coil strips would take if a spreading or opening force were applied to the attachment tapes l8 and 22. Such force is shown by the arrows A and B in FIG. 2, and if no means were available to provide a stop or locking for slider 24, the slider would move downwardly and disengage coil strips 12 and 14.

The inside of back portion 32 is illustrated in FIG. 4, and the inside of front portion 34 is illustrated in FIG. 5. Both the back and front portions of slider 24 are seen to. have similar upwardly expanding throat sections 26 for guiding coil strips 12 and I4, and back portion 32 is seen to include a centrally located longitudinally extending narrow raised guide channel 36. Front section 34 comprises a generally flat surface 35 which includes along its longitudinal center line 0 a raised guide channel 38. Both channels 36 and 38 have a transverse dimension at their upper areas approximately equal to the transverse dimension of connecting bridge portion 38, and they narrow downwardly to provide a guide for coil strips 12 and 14. Guides 36 and 38 thus provide an inner guideway, and outer guide means are provided on the inside peripheral wall of front portion 34 as shown most clearly in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The outer guide means are in the form of control walls 40 and 42 which extend from a lower edge 41 of slider 24 to an intermediate area approximately'in line with the lower edge of connecting bridge 28. Control wall 40 terminates in upper end 44, and control wall 42 terminates in upper end 46. It is further apparent from FIGS. 5 and 6 that each control wall includes an inner offset portion to assist in guiding the coil strips. As seen most clearly in FIG. 6, guide wall 40 includes an offset portion 50, and guide wall 42 includes an offset portion 52. In view of the offset portions, both guide walls 40 and 42 have a thicker outer base section and a thinner inner surface. This is particularly clear in FIG. 6 where guide wall 40 is seen to include inner surface 54, and guide wall 42 is seen to include inner surface 56.

At the location of each termination end 44 and 46 a locking means or ridge is respectively formed integral therewith and with surface 35 of slider 24. Due to the configuration of the slider having a generally onionshape at its top portion and a converging narrow straight section at its lower portion as seen most clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be appreciated that guide walls 40 and 42 extending along the periphery thereof have the same shape so that the guide wall area immediately adjacent to termination ends 44 and 46 have similar curved configurations. It is to be understood that the entire slider element 24 is formed as a casting, preferably of zinc, and the locking means are formed as part of the casting.

The locking means are shown as a pair of ridges 58 and 60 formed to extend respectively from the termination ends 44 and 46 in a generally triangular shape in plate-like or planar form such that the plane of each ridge is generally parallel to longitudinal center line 0 of slider 24. Accordingly, it will be clear that although peripheral walls 40 and 42 have the curved configuration in the throat area as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, locking ridges 58 and 60 are generally planar as shown.

The purpose of ridges 58 and 60 is to provide a locking engagement for the slider to prevent undesired movement and opening of the engaged coil strips. Accordingly, the configuration of the ridges as to thickness and the angle of the inclined side edge of each ridge with respect to the surface 35 is determined by the dimensions of coil segments 30. It will be appreciated, therefore, that for each size coil there is a corresponding size slider and a corresponding dimension for the integrally formed ridges. Generally it will be noted that the thickness 1 (FIG. 6) of each ridge is less than the thickness of its respective inner surface 54 or 56, and such thickness t is approximately equal to the spacing between adjacent coil segments 30 so that locking engagement can take place as will be explained hereinafter with respect to FIG. 7. t

It will be noted that each locking ridge has three side edges to provide its triangular shape. Ridge 58 includes an end or lower side edge 62 that is integral with termination end 44 and is substantially perpendicular to the flat surface35 of slider 24. Ridge 58 includes a second side edge 64 formed integral with surface 35 and extending from end 44 substantially parallel to slider center line 0. The length of side edge 64 is approximately the same length as side edge 62. A further side edge 66 forms the third edge of triangular-shaped ridge 58 and has an angle relationship with the flat surface 35 as seen most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 7. This angle is substantially equal to the helix angle of the particular coil strips involved so that locking engagement is postively effected. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that this angle will vary depending upon the helix angle of the particular coil strips. in this connection as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be appreciated that the coils are attached to tapes l8 and 22 to provide angularly positioned individual coils that extend outwardly and upwardly from the tapes to cooperate with the upwardly positioned throat portion of the slider. This will insure that locking engagement is best effected as most clearly illustated in FIG. 2. It will be understood that ridge 60 is formed with exactly the same shape and side edges as ridge 58 and need not be discussed further as to its configuration.

Attached to the outside or front of portion 34 is an integrally formed cast loop 68 to which is attached a swingable tab 70 that can be grasped by the fingers for moving the slider 24 along the coil strips.

The operation of the coil slide fastener with the novel locking means will now be described. During normal operation of the coil slide fastener as shown in FIG. 1, slider 24 is easily moved up and down by grasping tab 70 to engage or disengage coil strips 12 and 14 as they are directed through throat 26 in a conventional manner. It is important to note that the location of locking ridges 58 and 60 arev at the periphery of the widest portion of slider 24 so that during this normal operation the coil strips 12 and 14 with the individual coils 30 do not contact theridges. When a desired positional coil engagement is determined, the slider is stopped, and it is then the function of locking ridges 58 and 60 to prevent any further movement thereof. This is accomplished as shown in FIG. 2 where the application of an undesired disengaging force is applied to the strips 12 and 14 andrelated attachment tapes l8 and 22. Transverse forces A and B thereupon spread the coil strips 12 and 14 to the outer extreme areas of throat 26, and this movement of the strips causes locking ridges 58 and 60 to be received in locking engagement between individual adjacent coils 30. This is particularly clear in FIG. 7 where the position of an individual coil 30 is shown in the engaged locking position corresponding to FlG. 2. This results in adjacent coils positioned on either side of each locking ridge. and movement of either coil strip 12 or 14 is positively prevented with respect to slider 24. It is therefore seen that slider 24 is locked in position with respect to the coil strips so that disengagement of the strips is not possible.

There are a number of advantages of the novel locking ridges of the present invention as compared to the prior art. Since itis possible to form the locking ridge integral with the slider when it is cast, no separate manufacturing step isnecessary to form a locking element as was necessitated in the prior art crimping or adding the spring linkage. Moreover, no complex machine is required to assemble the slider with alocking element as was necessary with prior art coil fasteners where the spring and tooth arrangement was provided. A further advantage is that there is no possibility of malfunction or jamming since the locking ridges 58 and 60 are an integral part of the slider and cannot be detached or loosened therefrom. A still further advantage of the invention is the provision of an inexpensive locking element for a slider that provides a positive locking effect.

Variations are possible from the construction shown in the illustrated embodiment in that different configuration of the control walls can be provided, or the coil construction may be of the Ruhrmann type where parts of the coil strips are positioned on either side of the attachment strips. In such construction the locking ridges can then be located on either the front or back portions of the slider or on both to provide a more positive locking action. It is also possible to use a different type of finger grasping tab than as shown in the drawings since the operation of the tab and normal movement of the slider is conventional in the present invention. The critical feature of the invention is the location of the locking ridges at an outermost portion of the slider adjacent the throat area and having a thickness and angle relationship to the slider flat surface so as to provide a positive engagement with the coils for the locking action.

It will be understood that still further changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art in the particular features of the slider which has been described above for illustrative purposes without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

What I claim is: I

1. A slider for strips of a plastic coil fastener having engageable segments comprising a body portion shaped to enclose juxtaposed segments of said coil strips therein, said body portion converging at oneend to force said juxtaposed segments into engagement with each other as said slider is moved longitudinally along said strips and having an expanding throat at the other end to accommodate separation of saidstrips; a

a bridge portion located centrally in said throat to guide said strips;

said body portion having a generally flat surface extending from said bridge portion to its periphery surface of said body portion and each adapted to slide between adjacent segments on a respective coil strip to prevent longitudinal movementof the slider as each strip extending from said throat moves into a constantly diverging condition with respect to the other strip, said ridges being planar and having a thickness less than the thickness of said control walls at the edges thereof away from said body portion,

said inclined surfaces having an angle with respect to said body portion substantially corresponding to the helix angle of segments of said fastener, with respect to said center line, at said locking ridges in a diverging condition of said strip.

2. A slider according to claim 1 in which each said control wall has an inner edge surface all points of which are at the same distance from said flat surface of said body portion, each said locking ridge has a triangular shape, and one of the side edgesof the triangle is equal to said distance.

3. A slider according to claim 2 in which each said control wall inner edge surface has a predetermined transverse dimension, said locking ridge is provided in plate form, and the thickness of said ridge plate is less than said control wall transverse dimension and approximately equal to the spacing between adjacent coil segments.

4. A slider according to claim 2 in which said one side edge of each locking ridge is generally perpendicular to said flat surface of said body portion.

5. A slider according to claim 4 wherein a second side edge of said triangular-shaped locking ridge is parallel to said center line, and a third side edge of said locking ridgeconnects said two side edges to provide said inclined surface.

6. A slider according toclaim 1 each said control wall comprises a straight section extending from an edge of said converging end to be generally parallel to said center line and continuing to comprise a curved section corresponding to the shape of said expanding throat and extending to said termination point, and each said respective locking ridge is formed integral with a terminating edge of said curved section and extends generally parallel with said center line.

7. A slider according to claim 1 in which said body portion comprises a front portion and a back portion interconnected by said bridge portion, said flat surface on which said locking ridges are formed is located on the inside of said front portion, and a grasping tab is mounted on the outside of said front portion.

8. A slider for a fastener of the type having a pair of plastic coils with opposite twists and each affixed to one side of a separate tape, said slider comprising a unitary member having a back portion for engaging the other sides of said tapes, a front portion for engaging the sides of said coils away from said one sides of said tapes, a centrally positioned bridge joining said front and back portions at one end thereof, and a pair of control walls extending from said front portion toward said back portion symmetrically on opposite sides of a center line passing through said bridge, said control walls converging from first ends toward said one end of said front portion to second ends toward the end of said front portion opposite said one end thereof, to define channels for said coils, and a locking ridge at the first end of each control wall comprising a triangular portion integrally joined to said front portion and the respective control wall with an inclined edge at a given angle to said front portion, said triangular portions extending parallel to said center line, said ridges being planar and having a thickness less than the thickness of said control walls at the edges thereof away from said body portion, said angle corresponding to the helix angles of turns of said coil at said ridges, with respect to said center line, when the tapes of said slider are in a diverging state, whereby said ridges extend between adjacent turns of said coils to inhibit longitudinal movement of said slider when said strips extending from between said one ends of said front and back portions are pulled apart. v

9. The slider of claim 8 wherein said ridges have thicknesses substantially equal to the spacing between adjacent turns of .said coils.

Patent No. 3, 823, 446 Dated July 16,, 1974 Inventofle) Karl W, Labecki It ie certified that errer appears in the abeve-identifie 1 patent and that said Lettere Patent are hereby wrreeted ae ehown below:

Clolumn 3, line 4-2: after "be" add -=---in-- Claim 1, line 22: cancel "center line of'h Signed and sealed this I 2th day of November 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M, GIBSON JR. Cu MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents F OR! PO-OSO (10-69) U5COMM-DC 00376-P69 9 u s aovnmnnv "mum: onus: nu c-au-aa 

1. A slider for strips of a plastic coil fastener having engageable segments comprising a body portion shaped to enclose juxtaposed segments of said coil strips therein, said body portion converging at one end to force said juxtaposed segments into engagement with each other as said slider is moved longitudinally along said strips and having an expanding throat at the other end to accommodate separation of said strips; a bridge portion located centrally in said throat to guide said strips; said body portion having a generally flat surface extending from said bridge portion to its periphery and further having at least one pair of control walls formed along the periphery of said body portion on opposite sides of a center line passing through said bridge portion, said control walls extending from said converging end to respective termination points spaced from said bridge portion; and a pair of locking ridges formed integral with said body portion and extending generally parallel to center line of said center line, one each of said ridges located at a respective one of said termination points and having an edge inclined to said flat surface of said body portion and each adapted to slide between adjacent segments on a respective coil strip to prevent longitudinal movement of the slider as each strip extending from said throat moves into a constantly diverging condition with respect to the other strip, said ridges being planar and having a thickness less than the thickness of said control walls at the edges thereof away from said body portion, said inclined surfaces having an angle with respect to said body portion substantially corresponding to the helix angle of segments of said fastener, with respect to said center line, at said locking ridges in a diverging condition of said strip.
 2. A slider according to claim 1 in which each said control wall has an inner edge surface all points of which are at the same distance from said flat surface of said body portion, each said locking ridge has a triangular shape, and one of the side edges of the triangle is equal to said distance.
 3. A slider according to claim 2 in which each said control wall inner edge surface has a predetermined transverse dimension, said locking ridge is provided in plate form, and the thickness of said ridge plate is less than said control wall transverse dimension and approximately equal to the spacing between adjacent coil segments.
 4. A slider according to claim 2 in which said one side edge of each locking ridge is generally perpendicular to said flat surface of said body portion.
 5. A slider according to claim 4 wherein a second side edge of said triangular-shaped locking ridge is parallel to said center line, and a third side edge of said locking ridge connects said two side edges to provide said inclined surface.
 6. A slider according to claim 1 each said control wall comprises a straight section extending from an edge of said converging end to be generally parallel to said center line and continuing to comprise a curved section corresponding to the shape of said expanding throat and extending to said termination point, and each said respective locking ridge is formed integral with a terminating edge of said curved section and extends generally parallel with said center line.
 7. A slider according to claim 1 in which said body portion comprises a front portion and a back portion interconnected by said bridge portion, said flat surface on which said locking ridges are formed is located on the inside of said front portion, and a grasping tab is mounted on the outsIde of said front portion.
 8. A slider for a fastener of the type having a pair of plastic coils with opposite twists and each affixed to one side of a separate tape, said slider comprising a unitary member having a back portion for engaging the other sides of said tapes, a front portion for engaging the sides of said coils away from said one sides of said tapes, a centrally positioned bridge joining said front and back portions at one end thereof, and a pair of control walls extending from said front portion toward said back portion symmetrically on opposite sides of a center line passing through said bridge, said control walls converging from first ends toward said one end of said front portion to second ends toward the end of said front portion opposite said one end thereof, to define channels for said coils, and a locking ridge at the first end of each control wall comprising a triangular portion integrally joined to said front portion and the respective control wall with an inclined edge at a given angle to said front portion, said triangular portions extending parallel to said center line, said ridges being planar and having a thickness less than the thickness of said control walls at the edges thereof away from said body portion, said angle corresponding to the helix angles of turns of said coil at said ridges, with respect to said center line, when the tapes of said slider are in a diverging state, whereby said ridges extend between adjacent turns of said coils to inhibit longitudinal movement of said slider when said strips extending from between said one ends of said front and back portions are pulled apart.
 9. The slider of claim 8 wherein said ridges have thicknesses substantially equal to the spacing between adjacent turns of said coils. 